[4] In 1968, Riddell started a newsletter called "Bluesnews" and also organised the First National Blues Convention, held at Mollers Farm in Oratia, Auckland.

After Kershaw and Jackson left the band, the name was shortened to Original Sun and consisted of Alastair (guitar/vocals), Ron (drums), and Peter Cuddihy (bass).

[8][9] The album Space Waltz, which was released by EMI in 1975, featured Riddell, Eddie Rayner, Greg Clark, Peter Cuddihy, and Brent Eccles, with backing vocals from The Yandall Sisters.

'The Wonder Ones' band featuring Alastair Riddell on guitar and vocals, Tony McMaster on bass, Paul Baeyertz on keyboards and Paul Dunningham on drums, toured New Zealand between July 1977 and February 1978 including performing at the first Nambassa Music Festival held at Waihi and at The Great Western Music Festival at Oratia in January 1978 .

Paul Dunningham had also played at the start of 1977 with Riddell's band Stuart And The Belmonts who were resident at the Stage Door nightclub in Auckland.

He twice declined invitations to join Split Enz, the first time to replace guitarist Wally Wilkinson in 1975, and then again in 1977 when Phil Judd left the band, with Neil Finn subsequently taking the position.

[9] He joined a brief David Bowie tribute tour in 2016 with Jordan Luck, Finn Andrews, Eddie Rayner and others, the same year "Fraulein Love" featured in the trailer for Taika Waititi's 2016 film Hunt for the Wilderpeople.